Ireland Said Yes

This is a bit late going up – I had wanted to do it on Friday but between one thing and another…

On Friday we all got to act like the judges on Britain’s Got Talent and decided whether the Gay Community should be allowed to marry like the rest of us or should we make them settle for a substandard alternative? Well yesterday they got a big fat Yes, over a million of them.

Whilst legally it was about marriage for a lot of people it was about more than that – it was acceptance. I hope that in the future I won’t notice gay couples holding hands or laughing comfortably in each others company, or trick actin’ – in the same way I don’t notice it when it’s a heterosexual couple because that’s what couples do! (Actually I do notice when they take up LOADS of space on the footpath and you can’t get beyond them)

On Friday I took a photo of a building that had a YES on it – It was the logical vote to give even the buildings thought so:

It was only after lunch on Friday that I spotted the #HomeToVote on Twitter. It was inspirational so the general message out there was:

The only vote that counted was the one that was out into the ballot box and not the button you clicked on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media.

And we did! WE DID IT!

Yesterday we wombled into town to soak up some of the atmosphere – I thought town was electric on Friday but Saturday was like Paddys Day & Mardi Gras all rolled into one and not a drop of rain was to be seen or felt. The only drops of water were tears – tears from people who now felt accepted, tears of happiness from people who know that this means so much to their friends, tears of pride that we, as a backward catholic nation could turn around and say No this isn’t about the church – this is about Us!

We walked down Capel Street, over the bridge up to Dublin Castle where you could watch the results pour in, out passed the George Pub (in only for a quick use of the facilities – sorry!) then out to Fallon & Byrne for some expensive treats, up Grafton Street and back retracing our steps – by the time we came back to Dublin Castle all gates were shut and nobody else could get in. Did you see the crowds on the Telly? It doesn’t matter were you live this was all over the world – one little nation!
At that point we decided to head home as we are old farts who did too much strolling and watched the news unfold on the telly.

Here are a few Photos from that stroll:

And then there was The Mammy out with her rainbow:

(I can’t get this photo to move up…)

However, as we approached Capel Street I saw a t-shirt I’d love to get my hands on…

And then on towards the Panti Bar:

Standing room Only

As you can see – the place was packed and there was a queue to get in. By the time the final announcement was made this place was heaving! There were no more barriers and the street erupted into full on party mode: